Pitching Coach found on Megan's Law Database-Ray Ramirez

[TravelSoftballDad]

My daughter also had lessons from Ray many,many,many years ago and when someone who was disgruntled with him notified me. Since I am involved with law enforcement,I did do a background check on him and did verify his crime did occur when he was seventeen years old and has since been clean.

What kind of 'Background Check' did you do exactly? Confirming his claim is this took place over 50 years ago?

[DonnieS]

who didnt know how to help.

I can only say that I dont know what I would do if someone hurt them and I were to catch them.

OTB, that was the tough thing is knowing what to do to help. Its so scary because the last thing that a victim wants at this point is to be hugged/be close to a male. Typical words were 'Dad I am ok - please its ok - really ' and push away - the police people told me this was quite normal. Maybe it was, but you really want to comfort - and you cant.

And regarding if you were to catch someone in the act, be sure you understand that there is no cure for this disease of want to hurt young girls - there is no counseling that helps them to stop doing this - the only cure is being removed, completely. If you catch someone in the act, you know for sure - this is someone who needs to be killed - so think about it now - and prepare yourself. This is not revenge for what they have done to your child, you are defending the next victim. That is the only solution, and any honest law enforcement person will agree, to the others, screw you.

[DonnieS]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/01/south-carolina-sheriff-need-to-protect-yourself/?intcmp=trending

[TravelSoftballDad]

Still waiting to hear from 'Mafia. I'm interested in what kind of background check 'Mafia actually did as opposed to just saying he backs this guy and...oh yeah... he's "involved in law enforcement."

??

[TravelSoftballDad]

Yeah...just what I thought.

No "background check" huh 'Mafia? Just a bunch of hot air I guess.

It's all good if you trust your DD with this guy and thankfully (I assume) nothing bad happened, but don't come on here telling everyone how you did a some check on him. Even going further in saying, cuz you're "in law enforcement", we should all trust our kids with him.

Unbelievable

[CoachMike]

After reading the above comments, I would also agree that we need to use caution before labeling Ray with this. I took my daughter to Ray for a year back in 12u before we switched coaches. Either my wife or I were at every lesson and never once did we see any of the indicators that would have given us concern about Ray. No touching, hugging, or anything near inappropriate at any time. Our reason for switching coaches was a normal progression as our daughter was not making further progress - hence time for a change.

I do feel that something like the Megan's Law list is definitely needed but I do think it needs to be reformed so that the truly dangerous predators are kept away from our kids.

[TravelSoftballDad]

Yes...I agree. People who have been convicted of the following do not belong on Megan's Law list (sarcasm now off).

Read the following outloud to yourself while your DD gets ready for pitching lessons. Then ask yourself if maybe there might be a another coach available and...ummmm I dunno...maybe hasn't been convicted of the following. By the way, did Coach Ray pled guilty to this or was there a trial? If he pled, one can rest-assured he was facing much more serious (depending on how you look at them) charges and THIS was the better deal.

CALIFORNIA CODES
PENAL CODE
SECTION 220-222

220. (a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), any person who
assaults another with intent to commit mayhem, rape, sodomy, oral
copulation, or any violation of Section 264.1, 288, or 289 shall be
punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, four, or six
years.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (b), any person who assaults
another person under 18 years of age with the intent to commit rape,
sodomy, oral copulation, or any violation of Section 264.1, 288, or
289 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for five,
seven, or nine years.
(b) Any person who, in the commission of a burglary of the first
degree, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 460, assaults
another with intent to commit rape, sodomy, oral copulation, or any
violation of Section 264.1, 288, or 289 shall be punished by
imprisonment in the state prison for life with the possibility of
parole.

[socalfan01]

I have been following this thread for quite some time and I haven't responded, but I feel that I need to now.

Bottom line is, this man is a convicted sex offender. He is registered with Meghan's Law to alert others that he is a sexual predator. Why would you want your daughter to be coached by this man? Why take the risk? There are MANY other coaches out there.

Taken from the Meghan's website:

Sex offender registrants whose sex crime was against a victim under age 16 are prohibited by law from working, as an employee or volunteer, with minors, if the registrant would be working with minors directly and in an unaccompanied setting on more than incidental or occasional basis or would have supervisory or disciplinary power over the child. If the registrant's crime was not against a victim under age 16, the registrant must notify the employer or volunteer organization of his status as a registrant. Failure to comply with this law is a misdemeanor offense. (Penal Code § 290.95.)

It looks like if Ray's victim was under 16, he can't work with your daughter. If Ray's victim was over 16, he must disclose to you that he is a registered sex offender at the start of the work with your daughter.

Here is my question: Did Ray come to you and tell you he was a registered sex offender? If so, did you actually continue with the coaching? If he didn't tell you, it is considered a misdemeanor offense.

YIKES!!! Scary stuff, for sure!

[socalfan01]

Oh, and by the way, according to CPK1, this man was dating a freshmen when he was a senior...which is the cause of the entire Meghan's Law offense. So, this means that he DID commit this ACT on a child 16 or younger, AND HE CANNOT work with your daughter. It is against the law and he should be reported. It doesn't matter if he discloses his information to you, he is now ALLOWED TO BE AROUND YOUR CHILD IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY.

Has anyone called the authorities to report this yet?

[CoachMike]

Ok this discussion could go on forever and take a number of directions. I will leave with a few points as you obviously have to make your own decisions.

1. I don't know how old you all are but being a bit of an old guy I can say that the 50's and 60's was a different time. If parents didn't like the boyfriend and caught him making out with their dd they call the cops and say whatever. The young man would probably almost always be wrong. Tough lesson. Compare that to today where so many parents don't know where their daughters are or with who and doing what.

2. I have to disagree with the previous comment that said "this is what Megan's Law DB is for". There is a huge difference between a predator who rapes and kills teens and younger as opposed to "statutory rape" cases which technically would be what Ray's situation would be called. If they were going to go back to old cases I think they could have sorted them out a little better. Or as mentioned more description should be added.

3. When we were going to Ray we did not know about this but heard later. But again, as a few of you commented, parents should ALWAYS be with their kid (boy or girl) when going to a private coach at least until your kid can drive and assume some responsibility. You are responsible for your child's safety as much as reasonably possible. Unfortunately there is evil in this world and evil will try to defeat good. Anyone can be guilty of misjudgment but I choose not to put Ray in the "evil" category. But whether with Ray or any other coach (and yes, there are many) YOU are the one taking your child to the instructor. You are the one that should be present. If you are there it's very unlikely something bad will occur.